Clarissa McClain

Anchor/Reporter

Helping people, keeping them informed, and inspiring them is what drives her passion for news. Her personal philosophy: “Everyone has a story — good or bad, happy or sad — It’s my job to share it with others. One story has the power to change many lives.”

One would think after years of pretending to be Vanna White, staging talk shows in her parent’s living room, and developing a slight obsession with makeup, she would have known all along that she was destined for a future in television. But it took her four years and two academic major changes to figure it out. In 2005, she received her Bachelor of Arts degree in Mass Communications from Auburn University. WAR EAGLE!!!

Her broadcasting career began with an internship with the award-winning Investigative Team at FOX5 News in Atlanta, Georgia. Shortly after that, she landed her first job at WTVY News 4 in Dothan, Alabama. Clarissa spent one year in the Wiregrass, reporting on a range of topics from city government to the Enterprise tornado disaster. In April 2007, she moved to North Alabama to work at WHNT-TV.

In 2014, Clarissa and several of her colleagues received a regional Emmy award for “Boys & Girls”, a special report on the Boys & Girls Club of North Alabama.

Clarissa is originally from Atlanta, Georgia, but loves living in the Tennessee Valley. In her spare time, she enjoys spending time with her husband and son, hanging out with friends, traveling, and cooking.

On her top five list of favorite things: two hour naps, shoe sales, singing loud and very off key in the car, old Disney movies, and playing with her terribly spoiled pooch Elle.

Email Clarissa a story idea to clarissa.mcclain@whnt.com.

Recent Articles

HUNTSVILLE, Ala. (WHNT) – When you need help, you don’t want anything getting in the way, even if you’re unable to talk. WHNT NEWS 19 is Taking Action to show you an easy way to communicate that critical information in an emergency, without saying a word. A simple, yet life-saving addition to your seat belt strap or child’s car seat strap can alert first responders to behavioral tendencies, allergies, emergency contact information and specifics regarding your medical history or current medical […]

HUNTSVILLE, Ala. (WHNT) – Now that the city’s largest arts festival is officially underway– many of you may be planning on waking up Saturday, and heading to Big Spring Park to experience the magic. What you’ll find there is an even bigger celebration of all that is Panoply — and how that spirit comes alive. As the gates open, it’s time to play. Panoply excites the young and the more seasoned. “I am very excited and happy and very glad to […]

MADISON, Ala. (WHNT) – Apps help us do all sorts of things like get directions, find restaurants, and connect with other people and information. When a need arises, we’re familiar with the saying, “There’s an app for that.” When it comes to one very serious issue – suicide prevention – one group hopes an app can become a life-saving tool. It’s not easy to talk about, but for those struggling with thoughts of suicide, finding help should be. The SPEAK Initiative […]

HUNTSVILLE, Ala. – Community policing took center stage Monday night in Huntsville. District 1 Councilman Devyn Keith laid out a proposal that he believes will reduce crime and build connections between citizens and police. It’s a tough balancing act. Even Huntsville Police Chief Mark McMurray admitted that. WHNT NEWS 19 Taking Action to do our part to bring this community conversation to the forefront. Watch the full discussion here: “I have a young son that I don’t want outside much because I […]

HUNTSVILLE, Ala. (WHNT) – The Temptations and The Four Tops are both headlining the 29th annual Huntsville Classic on Thursday, May 11th, at the VBC Propst Arena. The event also features a seated dinner on the Arena floor and live auction. The Huntsville Classic, sponsored by the Huntsville Hospital Foundation, is a 2-day event featuring a dinner/concert and golf tournament. Since 1989, the event has raised nearly $5.7 million dollars. Proceeds from the 2017 Huntsville Classic will benefit a new […]

HUNTSVILLE, Ala. – The Food Bank’s Board of Directors unanimously selected Food Bank’s own Shirley Schofield to replace Kathryn Strickland as the new Executive Director. “Selecting a person to lead any organization is a significant responsibility and yet Shirley’s selection as Executive Director was an easy decision for the board,” said Board President David Newberry. “She is, hands down, the best possible person to lead the Food Bank today and into the future.” Shirley Schofield began working at the Food […]

HUNTSVILLE, Ala. – Wednesday, Huntsville Hospital Foundation and Huntsville Hospital announced a collaborative effort to increase awareness about suicide in north Alabama. The project, SPEAK – Suicide, Prevention, Empowerment, Awareness, Knowledge, is multi-faceted and will primarily target middle and high school students in Huntsville City Schools, Madison City Schools and Madison County Schools. It’s designed to raise awareness for teachers, parents, relatives, medical professionals and others who could play a role in noticing the signs of suicide and help stop […]

HUNTSVILLE, Ala. (WHNT) – A major road project will start next year. It’s expected to cause headaches for thousands of drivers. Some of you know from first-hand experience that Cecil Ashburn Drive is at capacity. “A lot of people think it’s just the two intersections on both ends and if we fix that, we’ll fix the problem,” says Kathy Martin, Director of City Engineering for Huntsville. “But really, you’re just letting more traffic through and you’re moving the bottleneck further up […]

HUNTSVILLE, Ala. – Just imagine you’re at the mall. It’s packed and you’re trying to get all of your last-minute shopping done. Then, you realize you’re hungry. So, you head over to the food court and decide on Chick-Fil-A. This is where things take an unexpected turn, when it comes time to pay for the food. Several hundred guests got a surprise treat today during the busy lunch rush – a free meal. “I was very surprised,” said Tebeckia Bates, who was one […]

HUNTSVILLE, Ala. (WHNT) – The holidays are a joyous time for many of us, full of big family meals and gift exchanges. However, there’s another side to that. It’s also a reminder for some of what they don’t have or what’s missing from their lives. Sarah Hunt-Blackwell saw a homeless person on her way to work and decided that she was tired of just passing them by. She came up with an idea to bring the hope of the holidays […]

HUNTSVILLE, Ala. – There are many people still getting things put back together after the tornadoes in late November. The storm forced the non-profit, Free2Be, out of its office. It damaged the building so bad, they couldn’t even go inside. WHNT NEWS 19 Pays it Forward as they start over. In a week’s time, Free2Be went from a condemned space to a new one. “That was totally unexpected because it has everything we need,” says CEO James Robinson. When the […]

HUNTSVILLE, Ala. – It’s been almost a week since a tornado tore through a Madison County neighborhood. While many of us are able to go on with our daily lives, folks are still struggling. WHNT NEWS 19 Pays it Forward to one of the groups helping them rebuild their property and lives. You know that saying, “There are too many cooks in the kitchen.” Well, well, in this case, at Wears Chapel Baptist Church on Ryland Pike, there can never […]